An assessment of factors influencing the operations of foreign owned business establishments in Kenya

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Abstract

The direction of this study was to establish the solid factors which determine the establishment and operations of foreign owned businesses in Kenya, like Kenya Data Networks Limited, (KDN), a giant internet provider in Eastern Africa, as an example, being one of the most recently acquired companies by a foreign stakeholder. Kenya Data Networks was worth mentioning here only because it stands out as the most recent case at hand, where an acquisition turned a local firm in to a foreign firm and then the performance of the organization started changing immediately, more to my inspiration to carry out this research as a former employee in the organization. However, a survey design was adopted for this research, being a survey of in all the fifty foreign operators listed in the East African Magazine of June 2009, as annexed in appendix 2.
The research employed both primary and secondary data. Secondary data was collected by exploring the existing body of literature that helped to explain the relationship between the any two variables discussed in this script, and primary data was collected using both open ended and closed ended questionnaires which were administered by way of drop-and pick later method. Interviews were then organized to authenticate the validity of the findings from questionnaires.
Data was then analyzed using central tendency measures, and then presentations made using tables, graphs and charts. Data was also presented qualitatively using descriptions based on the research findings. Conclusions and recommendations were then given based on these findings.
The results of the findings indicated that foreign owned operators like KDN and others needed local skills to survive in this region of the global market. The findings of this research invaluably shed light to stakeholders thereby prompting them to put in place effective analytical tools, policies and practices, which lead to improved and higher bottom lines and hence improved realization of overall objectives of such firms.